Week In Review: Big Changes And Big Questions

This week, the world saw some major shifts in power and policy. In Venezuela, the U. S. took decisive action. They removed President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from office. The couple now faces serious drug trafficking charges in the U. S. The White House is also pushing for American energy companies to enter Venezuela. They want to control the country's oil worldwide. Meanwhile, tensions between the U. S. and Denmark flared up again. President Donald Trump renewed his interest in Greenland, the Arctic island under Danish control. Back home, the nation is grappling with the aftermath of a tragic incident. Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman from Minneapolis, was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. The shooting has sparked nationwide debates and protests. Many are questioning whether the officer's actions were justified. Videos from bystanders and the officer's own body camera footage have fueled the controversy. In response to the Minnesota shooting, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot launched the ICE Accountability Project. This initiative aims to track alleged misconduct by immigration agents. The project comes amid a wave of shootings involving federal agents. These incidents have occurred since the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration began.In Washington, the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services made a significant move. They froze $10 billion in funding for child care programs in five Democrat-led states. The affected states quickly filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. By Friday, a judge issued a temporary restraining order. This order prevents the government from freezing the funds for now. On the legislative front, several House Republicans joined Democrats to pass a bill. This bill extends Affordable Care Act subsidies, which expired at the end of last year. In Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker signed a major energy bill. The bill aims to lower electricity prices amid rising utility costs. However, not everyone will benefit equally. Nicor Gas filed a $221 million rate increase request for its suburban Chicago customers. If approved, the average resident's delivery charges could rise by about $6 per month starting next year. In Chicago, city officials made several notable decisions. Aldermen advanced an ordinance allowing the police superintendent to enforce a teen curfew anytime, anywhere. Mayor Brandon Johnson hinted at possible layoffs for city workers. Additionally, the city's chief financial officer announced her departure from the mayor's administration. Sports fans have something to look forward to as well. The Chicago Bears are gearing up for their first playoff game in five years. They will face their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, on Saturday night at Soldier Field. Fans are eager to see if Caleb Williams and first-year coach Ben Johnson can secure another win against their longtime rivals.